Canada鈥檚 prime minister Mark Carney on Friday announced a multi-billion-dollar military spending package, affirming his government鈥檚 plan to hit NATO鈥檚 two per cent defence spending target this year.
Since taking office in April, Carney has repeatedly warned that Canada鈥檚 military is not equipped to confront the growing threats facing the country.
He has cited the prospect of Russian aggression undermining Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and the United States鈥� increasingly uncertain role in shaping global security, among other risks.
鈥楾he international order built after the Second World War, and reshaped following the Cold War, is under pressure,鈥� Carney said Friday in a speech at a military base.
鈥榃e have taken our security for granted for too long,鈥� he added.
Carney announced CAN$2 billion to boost soldiers鈥� pay, including a substantial 20 per cent salary raise for the military鈥檚 lowest ranking personnel.
Those funds are part of CAN$9 billion in new military investments planned for this year, Carney said, vowing to invest in combat vehicles, drones and other hardware.
President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO allies commit to spending five per cent of their GDP on defence, and warned the United States could refuse to protect countries that do not devote what he considers to be adequate funds towards their military.
Carney affirmed Friday that Canada would hit NATO鈥檚 two per cent target this year and would plan to meet 鈥榯he new defence investment pledge of five per cent of annual GDP over the next decade, by 2035.鈥�
